Winter tire



. G. F. OEST WINTER TIRE Filed May 6, 1950 G ebrge F. Oest Inventor -ture disclosed in Patented Aug. 28, 1951 wwraa 'rnm Rochester, N. Y., assignor of oneflfth to Walter Oest, Omaha,

N ebr., and onefli'th to Irwin W. Oelt, Minneapolis, Minn. Application May 6, 1950, Serial No. 160,496

14 Claims.

The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire casing (either new, recap, or retread) primarily intended for automobiles, trucks and similar mechanisms, and more particularly to such a casing formed with a nonskidding snow tread. The term snow tread" refers to the usual and well-known large, thick rubber treads, or blocks formed on tire casings designed' primarily for winter driving.

Really effective winter tires should (1) prevent skidding on ice, (2) offer the necessary degree of traction in snow and/or slush, and (3) give suflient traction when both snow and ice are encountered. Over the last several decades, there have been many attempts to provide a satisfactorywinter tire which would meet the above requirements. However, so far as applicant is aware, only the tire structure disclosed in applicants copending application Serial No. 111,829, filed August 23, 1949, and the improved tire structhe present application satisfactorily meet the requirements noted above.

There is a tire on the market today, incorporat-' ing coils of wire in the circumference treads of the tire, as shown in Fig. 1 of the applicants copending application. These coils are so arranged as to expose various segments of wire as the treads wear down. ding on ice.. ket is what may be called a summer-type" of tire as distinguished from a snow-tread or winter-type of tire. While such a tire possesses utility, it does not satisfactorily meet all the requirements noted above for a winter-type of tire. Specifically, it is not satisfactory in snow of any Also, it has been applicant's there is a. deposit of snow or powdered ice on top of hard ice on the street, this summer-type" of tire skids along as readily as an ordinary summer-type" oi'tire.

v If, on the other hand, wire could be used as an abrasive in a snow-tread tire, the snow tread itself would cut down through the loose snow or ice and allow the wire in-the tread to make contact with the solid ice below, reducing skidding. This type v be an all-purpose winter tire 'for use on either snow or ice.

The present invention provides a snow-tread tire in which a wire is embedded in the tread in such a manner that the the will give therequired traction for satisfactory operation of the vehicle thereby oilering resistance to skid- However, the tire now on the mar-- thereby materially. of tire then would ner. The finished tire recesses of the the present invention lends itself to an inexpensive and feasible method of incorporating the wire in the tire tread during the molding thereof. The design of the tire tread as well as that of the abrasive wire permits ready and easy placing of the wire in the mold, and positioning members in the mold accurately and positively retain the wire in position therein. To this end, the mold is formed with a single peripheral groove to form a continuous peripheral tread on the center portion of the tire. Lateral recesses extend out from the opposite sides of the peripheral recess and form the lateral treads on the finished tire.

The wire abrasive in the preferred form comprises a, piece of hard drawn steel wire which is crimped radially, as will be later described, and then shaped or formed to provide peripherallyspaced sections and laterally-spaced sections which are positioned in the peripheral and lateral mold, respectively, as will later be more fully described. Means in the recesses serve to position the sections therein. The result is that all the operator of the tire mold needs to do is to take a piece of preformed, crimped wire equal in length to the circumference of the tire and place it into the bottom half of the tire mold, the positioning means therein serving to retain the wire in proper position. A similar piece of wire is then placed in the top half of the mold and held in position therein. The process of forming the tire treads is then carried out in the usual manwill then appear as shown shaped, crimped wires arin Fig. 1, with the two of the center line of the ranged on opposite sides tire.

The present invention thus has as its principal object the provision of a new and improved snowtreadthe which will provide suflicient traction under snow, ice or slush conditions, or any combinations thereof.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a wire abrasive means which is so positioned in the tire mold so as to facilitate easy and inexpensive incorporation of the wire in the tire tread.

Still another object vision of a tire mold of the invention is the prohaving means to position a wire accurately and positively therein.

To these and others ends, invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described,the

novel features being pointed out in the claims at being used under the various conditions described 9 The advantages of such a tire are deemed The wire arrangement of theme of above. apparent.

the end of the specification.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a tire casing traction-producing treads, as shown in provided with a snow tread, showing the relation thereto of a nonskidding and traction-producing member constructed and arranged in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through a portion of the tire illustrated in Fig. l', and taken substantially on line 2-! thereof, showing the relation of the preshaped, crimped wire in the lateral treads;

Fig. 3 is alongitudinal sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the relation of the spaced peripheral sections 01' the crimped wire in the peripheral tread;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the mold from which the tire of Fig. l is formed, showing one form of preshaped, crimped wire arrangement, and one means for holding and positioning the crimped wire in the mold;

Fig. 5 is like Fig. 4, but shows a modified form of preshaped. crimped wire. and a modified method of positioning and holding the latter in the mold;

Fig. 6 is a partial plan view of a mold similar to that illustrated in Fig. 5, showing still another modification ofthe preshaped, crimped wire, and the arrangement for holding and p itioning such a wire in the mold; and

Fig. 'l is a plan view of one form of preshaped, crimped wire used to provide an abrasive member, such as shown in Figs. land 4.

Similar reference numerals throughout the various views indicate the same parts.

Fig. 1 of the drawings shows a nonskidding and tire formed with a snow tread which comprises a single peripheral tread H which extends completely around the tire and is arranged symmetrically with the center line l2. As is apparent" om Fig. 1, a plurality of peripherally-spacedg teral treads ll are positioned on opposite sides of and are connected at their inner ends to the peripheral tread Ii. As is common practice in the manufacture of snow tires, the sides of each lateral tread l3 are flared out some: what, as shown at I, so that these treads get heavier as they approach the bottom of the tread. As indicated in Fig. l, the lateral treads I: are slightly inclined relative to the tread II and preferably in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the tire. This enables the tire to brush aside loose snow or ice, and dig down to the hardsuri'ace of the road as the brakesv areapplied. Also, the lateral treads on opposite sides of the peripheral tread are arranged in staggered relation. This is by way of illustration only. a d the applicant is not to be limited to the precise arrangement of treads, or the angle of the lateral treads to the peripheral tread, except as is necessitated by the prior art and the scope of appended claims.

In order to secure the nonskidding and traction-producing eflects. the treads II and II have incorporated therein abrasive members or elements in the form of wire strips embedded in the Figs. 2 and 3. Each wire, prior to insertion in the tire, is crimped, as shown at It, Fig. 7, to provide a plurality of sinuous folds or corrugations which are so arranged that when the crimped wire is positioned in the tire the crimping extends radially of the tire, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. In the preferred form, the wire is about $61" in diametenand the corrugations measure about from top to bottom and about ,fl-across from crest to crest. Inasmuch as the wire ust flex with the rubber of the tire and must be reasonably wear resistant, a

hard drawn spring steel wire is specified. However, all of these specifications in regard to dimensions and type or wire couldvary somewhat. and

the shape of the corrugations could range from U-shaped or squared to V-shaped.

After the wire has been thus crimped, it is bent to form peripherally-spaced aligned sections I! which are adaptedto be positioned in the peripheral tread I l adjacent an edge ll thereof between the lateral treads ll. Intermediate the spaced sections Is, the crimped wire is iormed to provide a plurality of peripherally-spaced, ig-sag loop sections 2|, each of which is positioned between adjacent sections i9 and extends laterally therefrom and into the lateral tread II as shown in Fig. 1. Thus, a single strand of crimped wire is formed to provide spaced abrasive sections I! positioned in the peripheral tread ii, and intermediate abrasive sections 2| positioned in the lateral treads l3 and connected to the sections ll in the peripheral tread.

In the preferred arrangement. two such crimped and looped wires are used per tire, the wires being positioned symmetrically with respect to the center. line II, as shown in Fig. 1. while it is preferred that each wire be in the term of a single continuous wire extending completely around the tire, it is possible that, for ease of handling, the wires may be used in shorter sections. The crimped wire may be preformed and either cut into predetermined lengths or else wound in large rolls and stored until ready for use, at which time the necessary lengths maybe cut from the roll.

When the tire is new, the crests of the crimped wires appear at the surface of each tread element'. As the tire wears, the wires wear down at approximately ing points of wire exposed after the crests have worn through. Thus, the wire in the tire oil'ers an abrasive surface both when the tire is new and during its subsequent life.

Fig. 5 shows a slightly modified arrangement in which the sections 24 of the wire, arranged in the peripheral tread II, are slightly bowed, for reasons to be later described. These sections 14 are connected by irregular or wavy loops 25 which extend into the lateral treads l3. As in the arrangement shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 also uses two wires positioned on opposite sides of the center tread Ii and extending into the lateral treads l3. Also, the wires shown in Fig. 5 are preshaped and crimped as illustrated in Fig. "I.

Fig. 6 shows still another modification in which the wire is bent to form peripherally-spaced sections 21 similar to 24 shown in Fig. 5. The sections 21 are connected by W-shaped loops 28 in the lateral treads l3. Here. again, two wires are used, one on each side, and the wires are preshaped and precrimped, as above explained, but only a portion of one such wire is illustrated.

Thus, the tire of the present invention is provided with a pair of peripherally-extending, preshaped and crimped wires. each of which is formed with spaced sections (ll. 24 or 21) positioned in the peripheral tread ll intermediate the lateral treads it. Each wire has also formed thereon a plurality of peripherally-spaced and laterally-extending loop sections (II, 25 or 28) which are connected to and positioned between adjacent peripheral sectionsand arranged in the lateraltreads It. By means of this arrangement, all the treads are provided with the desirable abrasive member. While, as mentioned above. each wire is continuous around the tire,

the same rate as the rubber, leavascas'so l 6 the wire may be in the form of separate sections tion in its recess 81, as is deemed apparent from of smaller length without departing from the an inspection of Fig. 8. scope of the present invention. Furthermore, Thus, in each of the. embodiments shown in are provided with wire inserts which are emmeans are simple and inexpensive, yet permits skidding and traction-producing properties. mold.

In addition to providing the above-mentioned It will be apparent from the above description desirable features, the wire arrangements of the that the present invention provides a snowpresent invention permit easy and ready inser- 5 tread tire, the treads of which have embedded lend themselves to the use of simple and inexskidding on ice and will also afford the desired pensive positioning means in the molds. traction in snow,- powdered ice and/or slush.

Referring now to Fig. 4, there is shown a por- The abrasive members are so designed that they tion of a mold ll used in connection with the may be easily and readily placed in the mold;

mold 35 is formed with a central recess 36 which and held by means formed in the mold itself. will form the peripheral tread ii. Lateral re- The result is that during the tread-forming cesses 31 extend outwardly from the opposite operation, the wires are retained in proper posides of recess 36 andserve to form the lateral sition so that, when the complete tire is formed, treads it. As such structures are well known to the wires will be in desired relation with the those skilled in the tire-making art, iurther detreads I I and it.

formed with a plurality of riph ally-spaced the preferred abrasive element, it is here noted abutments SI positioned between the recesses 31 that wherever the term "wire" is used in the and adapted to engage the sections it of the a claims, it is to be construed generically to cover wires. The recess 36 is also provided wi h a plunot only a metal wire, but also any durable flexwhich are arranged in alignment with the re- 36 ment and adapted to be formed or shaped in the latter in the mold.

cesses 37. The outer lower corners ll of the While certain embodiments of the invention loops engage opposite shoulders ll formed on have been disclosed, it is apparent that theinthe sides 42 of the recesses 31. Thus, the shoul- 'ventive idea may be carried out in a number of ders l3 cooperate with the bosses l! and the ways. Therefore. this application is not to be abutments II to provide peripherally-spaced, limited to the precise details described, but is four-point supports for the wires to position the intended to cover all variations and modifica- Fig. 5 shows a slightly modified form of mold 45 pended claims. I to accommodate the type of wire illustrated in Having thus described my invention, what I this figure. Parts corresponding to Fig. 4 are claim is new and desire to secure by Letters designated by the same numerals. The bowed Patent 01' the United States is:

section of each wire is curved so as to enga e In a pneumatic tire casing, the combination the corners or abutments ll formed at. the with a snow tread having a single continuous recess 31. A pin or lug I! is formed in each reripherally-spaced lateral treads connected to and cess 31 and engages the loop ll positionedv projecting laterally from said peripheral tread, therein and cooperates with the corners I! to of an anti-skidding member embedded in said provide a three-point support and positioning casing and comprising a strip of wire formedto element for each loop and its associated parts. provide peripherally-spaced sections positioned in Fig. 6 shows still another modified form of said peripheral tread, and laterally-extending mold for use in connection with the wire struc-"- sections positioned insaid lateral treads. tum shown 1 this flaw-a This typ of mold is 2. In a pneumatic tire casing, the comhinat'icn less specialized than those shown in Figure 4 do with a snow tread having a continuous planar and 5, and the wire form indicated in Fig 6 peripheral tread and a plurality of peripherallycould be adapted to many molds already being p ced lateral treads connected to and projectused' Parts or the mold m 6 correspond anti-skidding member embedded in said casing formed with Penman-117W owners to ripheral tread intermediate said lateraltreads, engage the bowed $030115 However, this and sections projecting laterally from said first to retain the loops 1!! P 6 111 the recesses 3. In a pneumatic tire casing, the combination and comprising a strip of wire formed to provide tread and two groups or eripherally-spaced lat- Spaced Peripheral sections arranged in aligned eral treads connected to and projecting laterally relation in said peripheral tread and positioned from opposite sides of said peripheral tread,

between said lateral treads. and loop sections con-, anti-skidding device embedded in said treads and nected to said first sections and positioned in said comprising separate pieces of wire positioned on lateral treads. opposite sides or said peripheral tread, each wire 4.111 a pneumatic tire casing, the combination having spaced peripheral sections arranged advwith a snow tread having a continuous p ph l jacent one edge or said peripheral tread and tread and a plurality of peripherally-spaced latbetween the lateral treads, and lateral sections eral re connected to and p jecting laterally 10 positioned in the lateral treads and connected to from said periph ral tr a f n an in adjacent peripheral sections.

' member embedded in said casing and comprising 10. In a pneumatic tire casing, the combination a strip of wire which is crimped radially and with a snow tread having a continuous peripheral forme t provid ali n d peripheral sections artread symmetrical with the center of said casing ranged in spaced relation in said peripheral tread l5 and peripherally-spaced lateral treads connected between said lateral treads, and continuous loop to and projecting laterally from the opposite sides sections positioned in the lateral treads and ar- 0! said peripheral tread, of an anti-skidding deranged between and connected to adjacent pevice embedded in said treads and comprising ripherai sections. separate pieces 0! wire positioned on opposite 5. In a pneumatic tire casing, the combination 2o sides of said center, each piece being formed to with a snow tread having a continuous peripheral provide peripherally-spaced. sections arranged in tread and a plurality oi peripherally-spaced iatsaid peripheral tread adjacent one edge thereof, eral treads connected to and projecting laterally and laterally-extending sections arranged beirom said peripheral tread, of an anti-skidding tween and connected toadjacent peripheral seemember embedded in said casing and comprising tions and positioned in said lateral treads.

a strip of wire extending substantially around 11. Inapneumatic tire casing, the combination said tire and formed to provide a plurality of with a'snow tread having acontinuous peripheral peripherally-spaced sections positioned in said tread symmetrical with the center of said casing peripheral tread, and a plurality of peripherallyand peripherally-spaced lateral treads connected spaced sections extending laterally from and conto and projecting laterally irom the opposite sides nected to adjacent peripheral sections and osiof said peripheral tread, of an anti-skidding detioned in said lateral treads. vice embedded in said treads and comprising 6. In a pneumatic tire casing, the combination separate pieces of wire positioned on opposite sides with a snow tread having a continuous peripheral of said center and extending substantially around tread and a plurality of peripherally-spaced latsaid tire, each piece being formed to provide a eral treads connected to and projecting laterally plurality of peripherally-spacedsections arranged from said peripheral tread, of an anti-skidding in said peripheral tread adjacent one side thereof member embedded in said treads and comprising .and between the lateral treads connected to said as piece of radially-crimped wire extending subone side, and irregularly formed sections arranged stantially around said tire and formed to provide between and connected to adjacent peripheral a plurality of peripherally-spaced sections posisections and positioned in the lateral treads extioned in said peripheral tread intermediate said tending from said one side. lateral treads, and laterally-extending sections 12. In a pneumatic tire casing, the combination connected to adjacent peripheral sections and witha snow tread having a continuous peripheral positioned in said lateral treads. tread symmetrical with the center of said casing,

'7. In a pneumatic tire casing, the combination and peripherally-spaced, lateral treads connected with a snow tread having a continuous peripheral to and projecting laterally from the opposite sides tread and a plurality of peripherally-spaced latof said peripheral tread, of an anti-skidding deeral treads connected to and projecting laterally vice embedded in said treads and comprising from said peripheral tread, of an anti-skidding separate piecesof radially crimped wire posimember embedded in said treads and compristioned on oppositesides of said center, each piece ing a piece of radially-crimped wire extending being formed to provide peripherally-spaced secsubstantially around said tire and formed to protions arranged in said peripheral tread adjacent vide a plurality of peripherally-spaced sections one edge thereof, and laterally-extending sections positioned in said peripheral tread intermediate arranged between and connected to adjacent pesaid lateral treads, and laterally-extending loop ripheral sections and positioned in said lateral sections connected to adjacent peripheral sectreads. I

tions and positioned in said lateral treads. 13. In a pneumatic tire casing, the combination 8. In a pneumatic tire casing, the combination with a snow tread having a continuous peripheral with a snow tread having a continuous peripheral tread symmetrical with the center or said casing tread and a plurality of peripherally-spaced latand peripherally-spaced lateral treads connected eral treads connected to and projecting laterally to and projecting laterally from the opposite sides from said peripheral tread, of an anti-skidding of said peripheral tread, of an anti-skidding demember embedded in said treads and comprising vice embedded in said treads and comprising a piece of radially-crimped wire extending subg5 separate pieces of radially-crimped wire posistantially around said tire and formed to provide tioned on opposite sides of said center, each piece a plurality of peripherally-spaced sections arbeing formed to provide peripherally-spaced ran e in p iph r l l nm n and positioned sections arranged in said eri heral tread adjain said peripheral tread between said lateral cent one edge thereof, and loop sections connected treads, and peripherally-spaced, laterally-extendto and positioned between adjacent peripheral' ing loop sections positioned between and consections and extending laterally therefrom and nected to adjacent peripheral sections and poarranged in the lateral treads connected to said sitloned in said lateral treads. one side.

9. In a pneumatic tire casing, the combination 14. In a pneumatic tire casing, the combination with a snow tread having a continuous peripheral with a snow tread having a continuous peripheral tr'ead symmetrical with the center of said casing and peripherally-spaced lateral treads connected to and projecting laterally from the opposite sides or said peripheral tread, of an anti-skidding device embedded in said treads and comprising a piece of radially-crimped wire positioned on one side of said center and formed to provide peripherally-extending sections embedded in said peripheral tread adjacent one edge thereof, 100p sections formed in said wire between and connected to adjacent peripheral sections and positioned in the lateral treads extending from one side of said peripheral tread, a separate and independent piece of radially-crimped wire positioned on the other side of said center and formed with peripherally-spaced sections embedded in said peripheral tread adjacent the other side thereoi', and loop sections formed in said second piece between REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Hum: er Name Date 1,176,165 Rasmussen Mar. 21, 1916 1,740,916 Midgley Dec. 24, 1929 2,006,038 Yamaki June 25, 1935 2,113,066 Hoover Apr. 5, 1938 2,121,956 Eger June 28, 1938 2,415,291 Kreyer Feb. 4, 1947 2,479,474 Crooker Aug. 16, 1949 

